The Wrestling Observer is reporting that “Davey Hart” Smith’s last drug test was on 13 September, before he had been brought up to a main WWE roster. He tested positive for steroids but was not suspended until after 01 November, when WWE was able to release such information publicly. In other words, it appears WWE brought Smith up to Raw knowing full well that they were going to suspend him more or less immediately after starting to push him. The Observer also maintains that Dr David L. Black, who developed the WWE’s Wellness Policy, has recorded 60 WWE drug test failures but that there have been only 19 suspensions to date.
Expect Ric Flair to return to WWE sometime later this month. His differences with Vince McMahon and the concerns amongst the booking team about how to use him appear to have been smoothed over and he will indeed receive one last big push heading towards a retirement match, most likely at WrestleMania 24. The idea of him getting one last title reign has not been completely ruled out of the question, although it would still seem unlikely unless he gets over so much that it becomes inevitable.
Further to the story about Bonnie Hammer pushing for the ‘one night only’ return of DX, the Raw ratings do not appear to have matched her enthusiasm. Although the 05 November Raw did a 3.75 rating with 5.2 million viewers, making it the highest rated edition since the illegitimate McMahon storyline reveal on 10 September, which got a 3.89, Steve Austin proved a far better draw than DX. Although the opening DX promo performed well it was Austin’s segment with Santino Marella that performed best, gaining 1.1 million viewers. The various DX skits that followed lost 921,000 viewers. The DX match in the main event only gained 464,000 viewers. Also, the Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels in-ring confrontation on the 29 October Raw lost 402,000 viewers from the Divas Battle Royal, making it one of the weakest second segments in recent years.
According to Dave Meltzer, TNA’s plan for Chris Harris is to turn him into a ‘complaining heel’ in their version of Bret Hart in the WWF in 1997. It is apparently indicative of Harris’ real-life personality.
Nicolas Cage and Darren Aranofsky, the star and director of upcoming movie The Wrestler, were at the ROH show in Manhattan on 03 December. They were said to be fans of Bryan Danielson and Larry Sweeney in particular.
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 14 November 2007 (subscribe here)
